ASK TOM 

Questions & Answers from
Tom Krefetz of Classic Showcase

QUESTION 1:

from Dave S. of Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Will my classic Jaguar XK-120 increase in value after
I restore it?

TOM'S ANSWER: 
Generally speaking, the rarer the car and the better the restoration, the greater the chance of increasing in value. If the car was in very good condition before the restoration, then you might be able to perform a minimal restoration to it, therefore keeping your expenses in line. Overall, Jaguars have been doing very well with certain models, increasing even greater in value.


QUESTION 2:

from Susan F. of Los Angeles, CA

I have a Jaguar XK-150, and want to restore and show it, but I don't want to receive any point deductions, or worse - de-value the car. Does changing the color of my classic Jaguar deduct points in Jaguar Club of America competition? Will the new paint also result in a devaluation of the car?  

TOM'S ANSWER: You can change the color to any of the official Jaguar colors that were used by the factory
for the year of your car without receiving any deductions. Judges consider all of the "official" color schemes from the factory to be fully authentic. 

QUESTION 3:

from Dan H. of Las Vegas, NV

What do you recommend for a battery for a Series 1 E-type? I want the correct size one that is good for showing, and it must fit in the battery retaining frame, not just the bottom tray. I live in Nevada so cold starts are usually not an issue.

TOM'S ANSWER: 

If you will be showing your car then we think you will like a Lucas “tar top” battery. It does fit perfectly, including inside the retaining frame that fits over the top of the battery.
However, if you are not campaigning the car but want a dependable and less expensive battery then you can use a black Group 86 battery from Interstate Battery, Bosch, or any other major brand.

QUESTION 4:

from Diane S. of San Rafael, CA

I recently inherited a 1968 Jaguar XKE that has been sitting in a garage in the Bay Area since the 1980s. I would like to start driving and enjoying the car, but really don't know where to begin since the car has been sitting in storage for so many years...What is a good starting point in a situation such as this?

TOM'S ANSWER: Great question - since the car has been sitting for such a long time, the first step will be getting the car to a professional or Jaguar specialist for a complete evaluation to let you know the condition of the vehicle as it sits now. There are many things that are capable of causing a great deal of damage, and will need to be inspected before operation of the vehicle. Here at Classic Showcase, we would do a complete report with photos showing issues, and then have a meeting with prospective clients to give our recommendations for getting thier Jaguar road-worthy, be it through service or restorative work.

QUESTION 5:

from Stuart T. of Cupertino, CA

I was wondering, with the price of gasoline at an all-time high, what grade of gasoline can I use in my 1965 Jaguar XKE Roadster?

TOM'S ANSWER: Normally you would use high-test or premium at the pump – which is the highest octane sold. But you can experiment with the middle grade and see how the car responds. You can also try mixing the 2 grades together as long as you don’t get a "pinging" sound or a pre-ignition (where the engine runs after you turn it off), you should be ok. If it starts to ping, you will need to use a higher-grade gasoline.